Urban Development, Law and Parliamentary Affairs and District In-Charge Minister S Suresh Kumar said that this year’s Dasara festival would be inaugurated by Dr Veerendra Heggade, dharmadhikari of Sree Kshethra Dharmasthala, atop Chamundi Hills on October 8.

Speaking at a media conference in the city on Wednesday, the minister said Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa would formally invite Dr Heggade to inaugurate Dasara festival on September 17.

The CM, along with Mysore Mayor Sandesh Swamy, Deputy Commissioner Harsh Gupta and Police Commissioner Sunil Agarwal would also invite Governor H R Bhardwaj and scion of Mysore Royal family, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar in Bangalore on September 16.

The DC said said plastic and publicity material are banned on Chamundi Hill. However, prominence will be given to art made by CAVA students  and floral decorations.

Regarding the jamboo savari, Suresh Kumar said that the procession route would be declared as ‘Zero tolerance zone’ to prevent people from crowding around the Dasara elephants.

LCD screens

Two rehearsals of Jamboo Savari and torch light parade will be held. He said that Mayor Sandesh Swamy has suggested to install LCD screens in various parts of the city for enabling local residents to watch all the programmes without going to the respective venues.

Tableaux

Suresh Kumar opined that people are losing interest in watching the tableaux year after year. A video conference with Chief Executive Officers and Deputy Commissioners of all the districts will be held to invigorate new ideas so that the tableaux will impart meaningful messages.

“The number of tableaux are not important, but the message and awareness is important,” he said.

Setting September 18 as the deadline for completing stalls at the Dasara Exhibition grounds, the minister said that steps are being taken to ensure that they will be ready before the start of Dasara.

Website

The designs of banners and posters of this year’s Dasara would be finalised on September 18. The official website too will be launched on the same day.

Security measures

Police Commissioner Sunil Agarwal said that Home Minister V S Acharya was appraised about the security measures being undertaken by the police. Stessing on the importance of a ‘image makeover’ for the police force, Agarwal said that police officers are being trained on soft skills.

Apart from that police officers coming from other districts are also being provided training on soft skills. He said that police assistance booths will be set up and community policing will also be taken care of.

Cultural programmes

Secretary, of Kannada and Culture Department, Jayaramaraje Urs said that artists are being shortlisted for the performing at the cultural programmes. He said that final list will be decided on September 18.